World No.2 Rafael Nadal opened up about the price he has to pay for being one of the best sportsmen in the world during the launch of the new branch of his ‘Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy’ in Kuwait.
32-year-old Nadal was in an interview with the Spanish media outlet Marca when a question was asked to the Spaniard regarding the price he had to pay for being famous.
“Tennis is a very global sport. There may be places where I am better known than others, but everywhere I go there are always people who know you. It also makes you excited,” Nadal replied.
He later went on to add that there are moments in life where a person feels tired of all that fame and wishes to be anonymous.
“You are still lost on an island in the Bahamas and that you are recognized is something that makes you funny, more than anything else (laughs). The truth, like everything else in life, is that there are times that maybe you are tired, and you would like to be an anonymous person at some point,” he explained.
“But immediately, at least to me, when that thought comes to mind, I try to think that it would be very unfair to consider all that, with all the good things I have.”
Meanwhile, Nadal’s long-time on-court rival Roger Federer hinted that he has no retirement plans as of now.
The Swiss maestro was speaking to the media ahead of his exhibition match against Nadal in Cape Town, South Africa. The 38-year-old Federer has constantly been asked in the recent past about his retirement plans as fans fear that the living legend will hang up his racquet in the near future.
“No updates on retirement or any plans to stop playing,” said Federer.
“The family is healthy; my wife is cool and I am feeling pretty good. I feel I can still compete at the highest level, which I feel I did again in Australia. I am happy to keep on playing. You never know, but at the moment I have no plans for any retirement and all that,” said the 20-time Grand Slam winner.
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